World Bank: Extractive Industries Review

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the World Bank has considered and drawn conclusions from the review by Mr Emil Salim of oil and mining projects; and what impact the review will have on the Government's foreign and investment policies.

Baroness Amos: The World Bank management is still considering their response to the extractive industries review.
	The DfID does not anticipate that the review will significantly impact UK foreign or investment policy. It will however contribute to the ongoing process of improving the sustainable development performance of oil, gas and mining sectors; and the high standards that the bank encourages from its partners.

North Korea: UK's Humanitarian Aid

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have provided any humanitarian aid in response to the train crash in North Korea; and, if so, how much.

Baroness Amos: DfID has set aside £56,000 for support to affected households through the International Federation of the Red Cross, having judged this assistance to be the most effective way to meet the unmet needs. Initial appeals for support are well covered, and while the UK was ready to fund the replenishing of disaster relief supplies, the European Commission has pledged 200,000 euros for this purpose. The UK's share of this pledge is approximately 38,000 euros (£25,500).
	It is also the case that relief supplies arriving shortly after the train crash were sent from a Red Cross disaster preparedness warehouse, funded by the Department for International Development. Last year DfID provided £200,000 of support to the North Korean Red Cross's disaster preparedness activities, which included the provision of pre-positioned disaster relief supplies. A further £200,000 is committed for 2004–05.
	The department will consider further appeals as part of its continuing programme of humanitarian assistance to North Korea.

Questions for Written Answer.Response Times

Lord Jopling: asked the Leader of the House:
	Whether she will engage more staff in her office and meet with them twice weekly, to press departments on a daily basis to ensure that Questions for Written Answer are answered within the standard two weeks, in view of the 51 such Questions on the Order Paper on 4 May which had been awaiting replies between 11 March and 6 April.

Baroness Amos: The actual performance of individual departments is a matter for them; however, I take my oversight responsibilities as Leader of the House very seriously and my office continues to press departments to answer Questions for Written Answer within the two-week deadline. This is something I review weekly with my ministerial colleagues.

Questions for Written Answer.Response Times

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the reason for the delay in answering HL2217, tabled on 26 March, about the published views of Mr Matt Cavanagh, special adviser to the Home Secretary.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We apologise for the delay in answering HL2217. Unfortunately, due to unavoidable time demands we were unable to answer this Question within the allotted time period. An Answer has now been dispatched and should reach the noble Lord shortly.

Race and Sex Discrimination: Views of Home Secretary's Special Adviser

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the published views of Mr Matt Cavanagh, special adviser to the Home Secretary, that race and sex discrimination may be "rational" and questioning the desirability of the anti-discrimination legation, represents the views of the Government.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Neither the Government nor anyone working closely for us condone any form of unlawful race or sex discrimination. We are committed to enforcing, and where appropriate, extending anti-discrimination legislation (as in the case of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000).

Critical National Infrastructure and National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which public sector organisations and which private sector companies the National Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) regards as comprising the United Kingdom Critical National Infrastructure; and how many computers and communications systems the NISCC regards as comprising the Infrastructure; and
	What is their response and that of the National Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre to attacks by malicious computer software programs in recent years; and
	In respect of the malicious computer software programs attacks, My Doom, NetSky, and SoBig—
	(a) how many United Kingdom Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) systems these programs infected;
	(b) whether the attacks degraded the functioning of the United Kingdom CNI, and if so, in what way;
	(c) how long it took to remove these programs from United Kingdom CNI systems; and
	(d) what is their estimate of the fiscal damage (the opportunity loss and the loss of trading) which these programs caused the United Kingdom CNI; and
	What action they are taking to ensure that the financial component of the United Kingdom Critical National Infrastructure is not placed at increased risk because certain United Kingdom financial organisations have advised their security departments to cease checking for computer system vulnerabilities because of the potential liabilities that may arise if vulnerabilities are identified but not corrected; and
	How many of the United Kingdom Critical National Infrastructure systems have been subjected to formal vulnerability testing to evaluate their ability to withstand a systematic logical attack by an adversary; and, in those cases—
	(a) who performed this testing;
	(b) what were the results;
	(c) what actions have been taken based on the results; and
	(d) what actions remain to be taken; and
	In respect of the National Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre (NISCC):
	(a) what missions and functions are formally assigned to NISCC;
	(b) where is NISCC located;
	(c) what facilities are available for Members of both Houses of Parliament to tour NISCC premises and observe the operation;
	(d) what is the source of NISCC staffing;
	(e) how many personnel are assigned to NISCC, and what is it's annual budget;
	(f) whether NISCC's financial and personnel resources are adequate to perform its duties.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government define the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) as those assets, services or systems that support the economic, political and social life of the United Kingdom whose importance is such that any loss or compromise would have life-threatening, serious economic, or other grave social consequences for the community, or would otherwise be of immediate concern to the Government. It is not possible to give exact details of the numbers of computers and communications systems that comprise the CNI as these details are not held centrally.
	The National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) was formed in 1999 as an interdepartmental organisation to co-ordinate and develop existing work within government departments and agencies, and organisations in the private sector, to minimise the risk to the CNI from electronic attack. While owners of CNI systems are responsible in the first instance for the protection of their systems, they are supported in this role with advice and technical expertise from NISCC.
	There are three strands to NISCC's approach:
	investigating and assessing the threat of electronic attack;
	promoting protection and assurance within Government and the CNI; and
	responding to incidents and new vulnerabilities with information, practical help and advice on mitigating action.
	NISCC is able to assist organisations in effective risk management and assurance of their systems through information exchanges with the UK CNI and with international partners. Part of NISCC's role is to promulgate regularly updated advice and warnings to reduce the vulnerability of critical systems to attacks. There is of course a limit to what government resources can do—it is for companies and organisations to take prime responsibility for their own IT protection and security.
	Within that operating framework it is therefore not possible to give exact figures on how many Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) systems were infected by the My Doom, Netsky and SoBig viruses, or what the exact extent of the fiscal damage was as this information is not collected centrally. However, NISCC overall assessment of these attacks is that their impact on the CNI was minimal, and that they did not significantly degrade CNI systems.
	As part of its information exchange work, NISCC has well established and extensive links with the financial sector. The Government are not aware that advice has been issued by financial organisations to their security departments to cease checking for computer system vulnerabilities.
	In terms of vulnerability testing more generally, again this is primarily the responsibility of individual system owners. NISCC is able to support the CNI in this role by providing the necessary support and information on current threats and the steps needed to protect against such threats.
	NISCC's work is spread across a number of government departments including the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Security Service, Ministry of Defence, National High Tech Crime Unit, CESG and DSTL. Anyone who is interested in the work of NISCC can visit its website or approach any of the relevant departments for further information.
	NISCC's staff is drawn from those central government departments that carry out its work. It's core staff is around 60. However, NISCC has the option to buy in technical expertise from other government departments and the private sector as needed. NISCC's annual budget for running costs for 2003–04 was £5.15 million. Budgetary provision for NISCC is assessed annually in the light of the overriding assessment of the threat to the CNI from electronic attack and alongside other central government resource considerations.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How soon after the holder reports the loss or theft of a passport cancellation becomes effective.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The speed with which a passport is recorded as cancelled from when the UK Passport Service (UKPS) receives notification of a loss or theft can vary depending on the circumstances of the case and completeness of the report.
	The UKPS will record a passport as cancelled only once it is satisfied that the correct passport record has been identified from the loss or theft reported and that the report is genuine. In some cases, such as those in which notification of the loss or theft is received automatically via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, cancellation will take place well within 24 hours. In other cases, particularly if further inquiries are necessary the process may take longer. Work is ongoing on a programme to reduce the time between lost/stolen passport reports lodged overseas and cancellation of the record on UKPS's computer system.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an estimate of the administrative cost, including security checks, precautions and the issue of the new passport, caused by the loss or theft of a United Kingdom passport; and if so, how this compares with the cost of (a) issuing a first time applicant with a passport; and (b) renewing an expired passport.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK Passport Service (UKPS) operates on a net running costs regime and all its costs are recovered through passport fees.
	As the noble Lord is aware, UKPS introduced a comprehensive new system for reporting and processing lost and stolen passports in December 2003. It is too early accurately to assess what additional costs are incurred in processing transactions of this type.
	The UKPS undertakes an annual fee review in conjunction with HM Treasury to ensure that fees are set fully to recover the cost of each service provided. The fee for the replacement of lost and stolen passports will be fully considered in the next review which is due to take place in spring 2005.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce a £500 charge for replacing a lost or stolen passport; and if so, what this would accrue.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are no plans to introduce a charge, over and above the passport fee, for issuing a replacement for a passport which has been reported lost or stolen. Such a punitive charge would be inequitable, particularly in a significant number of cases where it would penalise people who are already the victims of crime. However, passport fees are reviewed regularly to ensure they cover the cost of services provided and the next review in spring 2005 will assess whether a different fee should be levied to replace a lost or stolen passport.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any arrangements exist for the governments of European Union countries to exchange information on lost or stolen passports; and, if not, whether they will seek to initiate such arrangements.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Arrangements do exist for exchange of such information between European Union member states. As part of its counter fraud strategy and as part of achieving its strategic objectives, the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) intends to share information relating to lost and stolen passports with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad. To this end, UKPS has been in discussion with the relevant authorities to provide data to Interpol and, within the European Union, the Schengen Information System.
	These discussions are well advanced and UKPS is developing a technical solution to enable data to be sent to both systems on a routine basis.

Passports

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have proposals to make it an offence for an employer to withhold a passport from an employee; if so, what action they propose; and, in the interim, whether they will consult the non-governmental organisation Kalayaan, with a view to issuing guidance on this matter to chief constables.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no proposals to create such an offence as everybody in the United Kingdom already has the full protection of the criminal law, whatever their nationality or condition of stay. Should an employer withhold the passport of an employee, they could be liable to prosecution for committing an offence of theft. Where this occurs the employee should report the matter to the police so they may consider the appropriate action.

Somalia and Sri Lanka: Evaluations of Advisory Panel on Country Information

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following criticisms by the independent Advisory Panel on Country Infomation with regard to Somalia and Sri Lanka, whether they intend to revise the Home Office country assessments and, if so, how this will be done.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Advisory Panel on Country Information directly evaluated the country reports for Somalia and Sri Lanka, but also invited comments from 50 organisations and individuals regarding all the country reports published in October 2003.
	We have considered carefully the comments made by both the advisory panel and the respondents to its consultation exercise, accepting some of those comments but not accepting others. Where appropriate, amendments have been made to individual country reports for the April 2004 editions. Also, in the light of the feedback received, the Home Office has introduced a range of general measures to improve the methods and procedures by which country reports are produced. Details of the Home Office's responses to individual comments and the general measures introduced may be found on the panel's website (www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=4470) in the papers submitted in relation to the panel's second meeting.

Asylum and Human Rights Decisions: Country Information

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they gather information from sources other than British diplomatic posts when making country assessments for refugees and asylum purposes; and if not, why not.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Country information used in asylum and human rights decision-making is gathered from a wide range of sources, including intergovernmental organisations such as the UN, United Kingdom and other government sources, national and international human rights NGOs, and British and foreign news sources.

Liberia: Asylum Claims

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why failed asylum seekers are being removed from the United Kingdom to Liberia, given the current recommendation of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees against such action.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Each asylum claim from a Liberian national is considered on its own merits taking account of the applicant's circumstances and relevant country information, including views expressed by UNHCR. A proportion of Liberians are granted protection but when an individual from Liberia is unsuccessful in their application and in any appeal they may make to the independent Immigration Appellate Authority, we consider that it is safe for that individual to return to Liberia.

Liberia: Asylum Claims

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent a decision to remove an asylum seeker to Liberia takes into account evidence of persecution by non-state agents in areas of the country not yet subject to the peace agreement against such action.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Each asylum claim from a Liberian national is considered on its own merits taking account of the applicant's circumstances and relevant country information, including, where applicable to an individual's claim, information on non-state agents of persecution and the effect of the peace agreement.

Sports Colleges

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 31 March (WA 166), what initiatives they intend to take in response to the comments made by H M Chief Inspector of Schools to the House of Commons Education Select Committee on 8 March that there was a concern over the "less than spectacular success of the sports colleges".

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Sports college status has been used to accelerate schools' performance, in spite of the fact that a large proportion of sports colleges serve areas of social disadvantage (44 per cent have a higher than average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals). Since 1999, the average GCSE 5+ A*–C performance of sports colleges has risen from 41 per cent to 48 per cent which means that sports colleges are raising attainment at a higher rate than the national average (17 per cent increase compared to 10 per cent). Other measures of performance also show that sports college status confers benefits in terms of improved school performance.
	As with all specialist schools, sports colleges face a rigorous redesignation process every four years to ensure that they are continuing to meet the demands of the programme. The department also funds the Youth Sport Trust (YST) to work closely with sports colleges, with, for example, regular visits to schools, and in-depth annual reports on the sports college initiative. This ensures that an appropriate level of challenge is maintained.

Iraq: Depleted Uranium Contamination

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14 January (WA 87–8), what monitoring of water is taking place within Iraq to determine whether ground water or watercourses are contaminated with depleted uranium; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14 January (WA 87–8), whether the United Nations Environment Programme has begun the full environment field survey which was planned for 2004 and which will include depleted uranium; and how much they have budgeted to part fund the survey.

Lord Bach: In light of the local security situation, the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP) has not yet been able to commence its environmental field survey of Iraq. Therefore UNEP's planned monitoring of depleted uranium (DU) in the environment, including water, has not yet started. The Department for International Development has agreed to contribute £717,146 to part-fund the environmental field survey.

Nuclear Attack Submarines

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the life of any of the Swiftsure or Trafalgar class attack submarines will be extended.

Lord Bach: There are no plans at present to extend the service lives of the Royal Navy's nuclear attack submarines (SSNs).

Ministry of Defence: Heritage Estate

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Ministry of Defence heritage sites will have open days in 2004.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is committed to increasing public access to its heritage estate and is actively participating in the various heritage open days initiatives this year. The MoD is working closely with the civic trusts, the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) and London Open House to maximise the number of heritage sites taking part subject to security, health and safety, and resource constraints. Participation in the 2004 events is currently in the planning phase and it is therefore too early to predict the number of participating sites. However, 24 heritage sites took part in 2003 and it is hoped this number will be exceeded this year.
	Many MoD sites organise their own open days, conduct tours or hold special events on an ad hoc basis as part of their own community liaison and communications programmes. No details are held centrally.

Ministry of Defence: Heritage Estate

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings in the defence estate are currently unoccupied.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence does not hold details of the activities undertaken in its listed buildings on a central database. Apart from structures that cannot be occupied for practical reasons, the department attempts to find appropriate uses for its historic buildings. This is most difficult in the case of buildings constructed for specific industrial or storage activities, notably those in the Royal Dockyards, where substantial internal alterations would be inappropriate.

Ministry of Defence: Heritage Estate

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the disposal plan for unoccupied Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings in the defence estate.

Lord Bach: Vacant historic buildings, which have no sustainable operational use are transferred to a suitable occupier, following the guidelines published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	Unoccupied buildings declared surplus by the Ministry of Defence are disposed of, taking account of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport guidelines, which are approved by the Treasury. In the case of listed buildings, maximising receipts is not an overriding objective and we aim to obtain the best return for the taxpayer that is consistent with Government policies for the protection of historic buildings and areas. This is done in consultation with the appropriate heritage authority.

Ministry of Defence: Heritage Estate

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current book value of unoccupied Grade I and Grade II* listed buidlings in the defence estate.

Lord Bach: Information on unoccupied historic buildings and structures is not kept separately or on a central database and it is therefore not possible to give an accurate response. Asset valuations in the department are based on depreciated replacement cost (DRC) which reflects the cost of replacing the facilities provided by the building or other infrastructure. Listed buildings are, therefore, valued for their capacity to provide support to the delivery of defence and not as heritage resources with an open market value.

Draft Civil Service Bill

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to publish the draft Civil Service Bill within the next three months.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government are committed to publishing a draft Civil Service Bill for consultation in this parliamentary Session.

Draft Civil Service Bill

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Departmental Report 2004 of the Cabinet Office (CM 6226 April 2004) contains no information about the progress made in taking forward the Government's commitment to start consultation on a draft Civil Service Bill during this parliamentary Session, other than to note that the Propriety and Ethics Team is in the lead on the matter.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Cabinet Office's departmental report restates the Government's commitment to publish a draft Civil Service Bill for consultation in this parliamentary session. The Cabinet Office is currently taking work forward to deliver this commitment. The Government will set out their proposals in full when they publish the draft Bill.

Petrol and Diesel fuel

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research they have undertaken with the aim of decreasing the polluting effects of petrol and diesel fuel.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The quality of petrol and diesel fuel is controlled by EU Directive 98/70/EC (as amended) with the aim of reducing harmful emissions either by controlling the quality of the fuel itself for example, by limiting aromatic content) or by improving its compatibility with emission control devices used on vehicles (for example, by limiting sulphur content to improve catalyst efficiency). The Government have undertaken research on vehicles to investigate the effects of such fuels on regulated pollutants, but has conducted no research with the specific aim of changing fuel parameters to reduce pollutants further. A summary report (DP 01/05/0515) of a joint study by the former DETR, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the oil industries research body (CONCAWE) to investigate, among other things, the effect on fuel quality on particulate emissions is an illustration of the type of research normally conducted. Copies of the report have been place in the Library of the House.

Bus Emissions: 3-nitrobenzanthrone

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What figures are available for the amount of 3-nitrobenzanthrone emitted in diesel bus exhausts when such vehicles are under load; and
	Whether they have undertaken research into the adverse effects of 3-nitrobenzanthrone emitted by buses under load; and
	What information they have made available to the public on how to protect themselves against carcinogenic effects of 3-nitrobenzanthrone from diesel bus exhausts.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory includes estimates for 16 polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs), but 3-nitrobenzanthrone is not included and there is no data as to its emissions from buses. The Department of Health reviewed work carried out in Japan several years ago on 3-nitrobenzanthrone and indicated that no conclusions could be drawn from the data on its potency as a mutagen or a carcinogen.
	Nevertheless, PAH emissions remain a concern and the UK Government and the devolved administrations for Scotland and Wales introduced a new objective for PAHs into the Air Quality Strategy in 2003, based on a recommendation by the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards. This recommendation is intended to reduce any risk to the population from exposure to PAHs to a level that the panel believes would be so small as to be undetectable. Evidence on human carcinogenicity of these compounds is based on studies of the effects of exposure to mixtures of PAH compounds. Setting health-based standards for individual PAH compounds is not currrently feasible.
	Information on current trends in PAH emissions is available to the public at www.naei.org.uk. National emissions from all sources have decreased from 8,231 tonnes in 1990 to 1,944 tonnes in 2002 due to controls on emissions from industry, less use of coal for domestic heating and introduction of cleaner road fuels and tighter particulate standards for diesel cars and heavy vehicles. Total road transport emissions have decreased from 1,664 tonnes in 1990 (28 per cent of total emissions) to 1,050 tonnes in 2002 (54 per cent of total emissions).

Angling

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What Exchequer grants have been provided each year since 1997 to the Salmon and Trout Association, the National Federation of Anglers and the National Federation of Sea Anglers.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Exchequer grants to the national governing bodies of angling are as follows:
	
		
			  Awards to National Federation of Anglers (£) Awards to National Federation of Sea Anglers (£) Awards to Salmon & Trout Association (£) 
			 1997 25,000 55,000 15,000 
			 1998 25,000 30,000 25,000 
			 1999 25,000 19,000 25,000 
			 2000 15,000 35,500 27,000 
			 2001 67,625 34,000 34,750 
			 2002 39,000 47,000 39,000 
			 2003 43,000 49,000 43,000 
			 2004 43,000 49,000 43,000

Angling

Lord Moynihan: asked her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have analysed the socio-economic benefit of recreational fishing to the United Kingdom economy.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: An Environment Agency study carried out in 2001 estimated the total capital value of the inland recreational fisheries in England and Wales at £3 billion. Coarse fisheries were reported to be worth £2.3 billion, the remaining £0.7 billion attributable to salmon fisheries. Of this coarse fisheries value, the value of stillwater coarse fisheries amounted to more than £1.5 billion, with river and canal fisheries valued at £0.75 billion. The survey also indicated that annual expenditure by coarse anglers on such as fishing permits, tackle, travel, accommodation and other direct fishing costs, amounted to almost £2 billion.
	The Economic Impact of Game and Coarse Angling in Scotland report published this year estimated that expenditure on all fishing was some £112.5 million providing 2,623 jobs and with anglers spending 1,386,000 days fishing.
	No study has been undertaken in Northern Ireland.

Angling

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What projects and lottery grants have been made available to the governing bodies of fishing since 2000.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Lottery grants totalling £28,300 in 2000 and £15,000 in 2004 have been made to the National Federation of Anglers under UK Sport's World Class Events programme. These do not include lottery grants under community programmes that have been made to individual fishing clubs affiliated to the governing bodies of fishing.

Angling

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many anglers are actively involved in recreational fishing; and how many clubs are currently members of the governing bodies of fishing.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: An Environment Agency survey in 2001 estimated that in England and Wales 3.9 million people—9 per cent of the population aged 12 years or over—had fished in the preceding two years. Sales of rod licences have exceeded 1 million each year since 1994–95 with a high of 1.2 million in 1997–98. In 2002–03, 1.18 million people bought rod licences. The difference between licence sales and the survey results are attributable to the considerable turnover of individual licence holders from one year to the next, the fact that a licence is not required for sea angling and Environment Agency efforts to reduce significantly rod licence evasion.
	In Northern Ireland, based on licence figures, it is estimated that there are over 26,000 anglers. No figures are available for Scotland.
	There are currently 300 clubs that are members of the National Federation of Anglers; 350 clubs that are members of the National Federation of Sea Anglers; and 340 clubs that are members of the Salmon and Trout Association.

Local Election Rules

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether local authority officers and local standards committees have any powers in relation to issuing guidance over matters relating to the content of local election campaigns (other than to issue to candidates factual material about election law); and, if so, whether they consider that the issuing of such guidance is appropriate.

Lord Rooker: While a council's Standards Committee may issue guidance relating to the conduct of the council's members, neither that committee, nor the council's officers are provided with express powers to give guidance on the content of any party or individual's local election campaign.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome in the United Kingdom in recent years; and what comparative statistics are available from other countries.

Lord Warner: Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can often be difficult to diagnose, both at birth and later on in life, as it can be difficult to isolate the effects of the syndrome from other factors, particularly those relating to general maternal health during pregnancy and other inequalities that the mother and child may have experienced in the years following the birth.
	The following table provides details of all diagnoses of FAS in England drawn from hospital episode statistics (HES). Varying levels of awareness of FAS or other external factors may play a substantial part in year on year variations in the figures, including the increase in 2002–03.
	The World Health Organisation estimate that incidence of FAS of between 0.33 and 9.7 per 1,000 live births in a range of countries. Differing levels of alcohol consumption will contribute to the differing incidence, but it is possible that difficulties in diagnosis and recording may also contribute to the difference.
	
		
			 All Diagnoses (ICD-10 Q86.0) Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Count of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) NHS Hospitals, England 2000–01 to 2002–03 
			 Year FCEs 
			 2000–01 95   
			 2001–02 90   
			 2002–03 128   
		
	
	Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)
	An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	Grossing
	Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	All Diagnoses count of Episodes
	These figures represent a count of all FCE's where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (7 prior to 2002–03) diagnoses fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if a diagnoses is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
	Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether routine National Health Service dental treatment will be equated with medical treatment and be "free at the point of delivery" when the new dental base contract is implemented in 2005.

Lord Warner: The Government remain committed to ensuring that help is available to those who need it on charges. Currently around a quarter of all adults accessing general dental services pay no charges at all or pay a reduced rate, with the following groups being exempt from charges, that is a patient who was under 18 years; was under 19 and receiving qualifying full-time education; was pregnant; or had given birth within the previous 12 months.
	Help with health cost are available under the low income scheme to others. We have no plans to change these arrangements.
	A working group under the chairmanship of the Department of Health's Director for Patients and the Public, Harry Cayton, was established to advise on a suitable structure for dental charges once a new contract reflecting the provisions of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 is implemented, breaking the link between the fee paid to dentists and the patient charge as is the case currently. We will be publishing our response to the Patient Charges Working Group in due course.

Medical Liaison Practitioners

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are medical liaison physicians for each surgical directorate in National Health Service hospitals, especially for patients over 65, to advise on peri-operative care.

Lord Warner: Information about the number of medical liaison practitioners employed in National Health Service hospitals is not collected centrally. Individual trusts are best placed to determine what staff they need, and in what roles, in order to ensure the delivery of high quality, effective care that best meets the needs of their local populations.

Department of Health: "Arm's Length Bodies"

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to undertake a review into the proliferation and necessity of quangos and other agencies for which the Department of Health is responsible.

Lord Warner: The Secretary of State for Health announced to the Health Select Committee on 30 October 2003 his intention to review the department's executive non-departmental public bodies, special health authorities and executive agencies (the "arm's length bodies").

DrugScope

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 22 April (WA 61), how DrugScope originated in 2000; whether DrugScope has received public funding from the outset; and, if so, what is the total sum allocated to them to date.

Lord Warner: Further to my Written Answer on 22 April, DrugScope was established in 2000 following a merger between the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse and the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependency.
	From 2000, DrugScope has received £4,002,689 in funding from government departments (2000–01—2003–04).

DrugScope

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 22 April (WA 61), whether DrugScope has any connection with the pharmaceutical industry.

Lord Warner: Further to my Written Answer on 22 April, the Government are not aware of any connection DrugScope has with the pharmaceutical industry.
	Information concerning the structure of DrugScope can be found on the DrugScope website: www.drugscope.org.uk

DrugScope

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 22 April (WA 61), whether the aims of DrugScope are identical to those of the Government on drug policy; and what influence DrugScope has on government policy either directly or indirectly, for example through parliamentary channels.

Lord Warner: Further to my Written Answer on 22 April, DrugScope is a voluntary sector organisation. DrugScope lists the aims and objectives of the organisation on its website at www.drugscope.org.uk
	As a stakeholder in the drugs strategy, DrugScope works with the Government to help to set performance measures by which the success of the strategy is assessed. DrugScope is also entirely free to lobby government like any other non-governmental organisation, on any topic should it wish to do so.